We have been a streaky team for years. I think that's hard to change in a year. Even the years we did well we were awful for large periods. I still think we can win the competition this year, but we won't win consistently. Winning the comp seems a marginal proposition based on a streak at the right time. Not on being a Top 2 team playing winning footy all year. I don't think we are capable of that. In 2005 and nearly in 2011 one streak can take you all the way to the title so I wouldn't completely rule out us doing it again. However I don't think we can be a consistent winner yet with this roster. Reasons being - doubts at 1 and 7, not enough quality depth in certain areas, a few talented rookies still a bit raw and a rookie coach inheriting a coaching and playing roster.
In 2010,11,12 expectation among the fan base, players, coaches and media were we were in the Top 4 teams in the competition and a genuine title shot. This season after a dismal 2012 and with little to no recruitment and a few losses we are rightly on about the 10th line of betting and not in any of the experts Top 8's. Which is probably a good given the side seems to show signs of burden with favouritism many times over the past 3 seasons. It was obvious early in 2012 the competition favourites tag weight heavily on us and teams ambushed us early and we were rightly labelled soft. Players who struggled with that weight of expectation last year will relish the low key feel around the joint
Don't get me wrong i'm pumped about Potter. Undoubtably most fans on here are excited about Sheens getting punted and Potter replacing him. Sheens was stale, stubborn and created a culture where accountability had been lost to a point. Whilst Sheens was very frustrating at times with his stubborn selections and tactics he did have a big influence at our club. He will be a hard main to replace to a degree. He did win a title and have a couple of top 4 appearances and an attractive playing style over a decade. I'm happy with Potter as coach. He seems no frills, hard working, honest and lacking in any sort of ego. However like Potter says himself, Sheens had coached 600 games in the NRL and Potter 0\. So it's a step up for Potter and whilst i'm sure he knows his craft it's still the pressure of being a first year coach in the NRL in a big sydney club. Another thing Potter has to deal with is an inherited squad and coaching staff. Of course he is going to say all the right things, however he might well be looking at some players and coaches and having large doubts and thinking i might need to ship these guys out in a year or two to effect real change. His hands have been tied in many respects being a bargain basement coach.
I just look at our squad now and i don't think it measures up with Melbourne, Canterbury, Souths and The Cowboys. They are my 4 real heavyweights. We could beat them at our best but not over a season. I think we lack the depth in our 25 to sustain a very high ladder position. I still think there is a lot of talent here however too many holes to be consistent both in the starting side and in the list overall. Im happy Miller is getting a decent crack however I couldn't be sure whether he will be boom or bust. I thought he was decent in the Toytoa Cup without being as certain as i was that Lui would do well. Like most rookies i expect him to struggle at times. At fullback i'm no fan of Moltzen and Tedesco whilst a great prospect is coming off a knee and is still a rookie. Thats half a spine that doubts remain over for this year at least. The starting pack in great (Galloway, Farah and Woods) however with rep commitments and injury worries there is little to no starting quality or experience in behind that. I tink we could be in big trouble there even with 1 injury. The backrow has decent players in their own right but a poor mix when put together. lacks size and lacks impact overall. There is no one there outside of BMM who might be able to run over blokes or create havoc. Then you have Ayshford and Utai, who lets be honest might not make a huge amount of teams starting backlines. Lawrence I think can get back to his best, but we haven't seen it for a couple of years.
Yes we still have the Robbie and Benji show and they could go on a magic streak again. They are 2 brilliant footballers in their own right. However 2 finals appearances in 7 years is the cold reality of it all. 05,10 and 11 they had more pieces around them to evalate the team. We need the pieces around these players to be both more dynamic and more consistent. LIke a Hodgson, Prince, Lui, Ellis etc. More players teams are worried about or at least gam planning for. I think given time we have some super talent that can emerge and do this. Guys like Sirro, Tedesco, Koribete, Noafolamu, Brooks -there is the making of a super side here. However it will probably take a couple of years for it too all come together. They will all have teething problems. There rookies so they will have their moments i'm sure of brilliance and probably games when aspects of their game get found out.
Bottom line I think we might see more of the same old streaky Tigers this years. Ups and down, unexpected losses and moments of magic. Potter has inherited a squad that whilst talented, is flaky and has holes in it. I think his first job is to install a tougher culture of accountability and improve the teams defence. Small gains in these areas i think we will see on the field this season. However it might make 2-3 years to install a true winning culture. I think the best hope is not the Benji and Robbie show, but the serious young talent that should emerge in the next 2-3 years to help them, or take over to some degree.
If it was a EPL style first past the post competition I would say we are no hope this year as there are 4-5 sides. Sides more adapt and suited to winning consistently. However in the NRL you can win it on a streak so I couldn't rule us out, if like 2005, that young talent fires together and blitzes teams. 5th to 8th for mine if injuries are kind, 9th to 12th if we suffer a few.
In 2010,11,12 expectation among the fan base, players, coaches and media were we were in the Top 4 teams in the competition and a genuine title shot. This season after a dismal 2012 and with little to no recruitment and a few losses we are rightly on about the 10th line of betting and not in any of the experts Top 8's. Which is probably a good given the side seems to show signs of burden with favouritism many times over the past 3 seasons. It was obvious early in 2012 the competition favourites tag weight heavily on us and teams ambushed us early and we were rightly labelled soft. Players who struggled with that weight of expectation last year will relish the low key feel around the joint
Don't get me wrong i'm pumped about Potter. Undoubtably most fans on here are excited about Sheens getting punted and Potter replacing him. Sheens was stale, stubborn and created a culture where accountability had been lost to a point. Whilst Sheens was very frustrating at times with his stubborn selections and tactics he did have a big influence at our club. He will be a hard main to replace to a degree. He did win a title and have a couple of top 4 appearances and an attractive playing style over a decade. I'm happy with Potter as coach. He seems no frills, hard working, honest and lacking in any sort of ego. However like Potter says himself, Sheens had coached 600 games in the NRL and Potter 0\. So it's a step up for Potter and whilst i'm sure he knows his craft it's still the pressure of being a first year coach in the NRL in a big sydney club. Another thing Potter has to deal with is an inherited squad and coaching staff. Of course he is going to say all the right things, however he might well be looking at some players and coaches and having large doubts and thinking i might need to ship these guys out in a year or two to effect real change. His hands have been tied in many respects being a bargain basement coach.
I just look at our squad now and i don't think it measures up with Melbourne, Canterbury, Souths and The Cowboys. They are my 4 real heavyweights. We could beat them at our best but not over a season. I think we lack the depth in our 25 to sustain a very high ladder position. I still think there is a lot of talent here however too many holes to be consistent both in the starting side and in the list overall. Im happy Miller is getting a decent crack however I couldn't be sure whether he will be boom or bust. I thought he was decent in the Toytoa Cup without being as certain as i was that Lui would do well. Like most rookies i expect him to struggle at times. At fullback i'm no fan of Moltzen and Tedesco whilst a great prospect is coming off a knee and is still a rookie. Thats half a spine that doubts remain over for this year at least. The starting pack in great (Galloway, Farah and Woods) however with rep commitments and injury worries there is little to no starting quality or experience in behind that. I tink we could be in big trouble there even with 1 injury. The backrow has decent players in their own right but a poor mix when put together. lacks size and lacks impact overall. There is no one there outside of BMM who might be able to run over blokes or create havoc. Then you have Ayshford and Utai, who lets be honest might not make a huge amount of teams starting backlines. Lawrence I think can get back to his best, but we haven't seen it for a couple of years.
Yes we still have the Robbie and Benji show and they could go on a magic streak again. They are 2 brilliant footballers in their own right. However 2 finals appearances in 7 years is the cold reality of it all. 05,10 and 11 they had more pieces around them to evalate the team. We need the pieces around these players to be both more dynamic and more consistent. LIke a Hodgson, Prince, Lui, Ellis etc. More players teams are worried about or at least gam planning for. I think given time we have some super talent that can emerge and do this. Guys like Sirro, Tedesco, Koribete, Noafolamu, Brooks -there is the making of a super side here. However it will probably take a couple of years for it too all come together. They will all have teething problems. There rookies so they will have their moments i'm sure of brilliance and probably games when aspects of their game get found out.
Bottom line I think we might see more of the same old streaky Tigers this years. Ups and down, unexpected losses and moments of magic. Potter has inherited a squad that whilst talented, is flaky and has holes in it. I think his first job is to install a tougher culture of accountability and improve the teams defence. Small gains in these areas i think we will see on the field this season. However it might make 2-3 years to install a true winning culture. I think the best hope is not the Benji and Robbie show, but the serious young talent that should emerge in the next 2-3 years to help them, or take over to some degree.
If it was a EPL style first past the post competition I would say we are no hope this year as there are 4-5 sides. Sides more adapt and suited to winning consistently. However in the NRL you can win it on a streak so I couldn't rule us out, if like 2005, that young talent fires together and blitzes teams. 5th to 8th for mine if injuries are kind, 9th to 12th if we suffer a few.
